Van tyre range to suit ICE, electric vans alike – Falken

Falken Euroall Season Van11 (Photo: Falken Tyre)

Whether a van is powered by internal combustion or electricity, the demands placed on its tyres remain consistent. Therefore rather than developing specific electric light commercial tyres, Falken is improving the efficiency and durability of its van tyres to enable its range to support ongoing ICE vehicle utilisation and the transition to electric-powered models alike. Andreas Giese, senior manager, corporate and product planning, Falken Tyre Europe answered Tyres & Accessories’ questions about tyres and the electrification of the fleet.

T&A: How is Falken/SRI preparing for the electrification of van fleets?

Andreas Giese: “Falken is aiming to produce lower RRC (Rolling Resistance Coefficient) Van tyres in the future. Our van tyres will be optimised to fulfil the highest requirements with a low RRC, good wear rates and a safe wet handling. All of these attributes are hugely important for any commercial vehicle.”

Is there a difference between the performance characteristics demanded of tyres for current ICE van fleets and electric vans?

AG: “A low RRC is important for vans with ICEs (Internal Combustion Engine) as well as the electric vans to ensure they are cost-effective and feature an extended range. Wear-resistant tyres are also important for all van types. These requirements can all be served by one well-developed tyre.”

What are Falken’s latest products for this market?

AG: “Currently our van line-up consists of three options, the Linam Van01, Euroall Season Van11 and the Eurowinter Van01. The majority of these tyres are already marked with a B or C Label in RRC. They are also mostly graded A in wet grip performance, for providing good efficiency while not sacrificing any safety-related requirements.”

Markus Bögner, managing director and COO of Falken Tyres Europe says of the Euroall Season Van11: “All-season tyres are taking an increasingly important role in Falken’s product portfolio and brand philosophy. This area of the market is showing strong growth.”

How does the current range reflect Falken’s European van market targets?

AG: “Our market share and success in the van segment shows us clearly, that we are on the right way and gaining a lot of attention as well as knowledge in the coming years.”